Just been diagnosed border line thyroid high cholesterol low heart rate. Decades of stress leg ache , legs jerk at night only! My condition getting worse , alarming symptoms psychosis when stress. I started to hallucinate past also. I had guts to tell my doctor a thyroid test ordered came back positive. Years of crying depression lately worsening mental fog . Child hood trouble with spelling , math's my brain would fog up yet scored above intelligence. When fog lifts I fly . Depression became worse mood swings crying endlessly isolation thoughts to take my life. Feeling cold . Easy jobs difficult anxiety . Had confidence driving expensive cars giving reports. I couldn't understand why I would struggle with simple jobs but fly with others. symptoms tick box changed my diet helps Thanks new doctor with all my heart.
One simple blood test.: Just been diagnosed... - Thyroid UK
One simple blood test.
Welcome to the forum
Hypothyroidism is extremely common and causes many different symptoms
Depression and anxiety are extremely common hypothyroid symptoms
List of hypothyroid symptoms
thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...
Do you have copies of your actual blood test results and ranges?
50mcg levothyroxine is only a starter dose
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
Which brand of levothyroxine is your current levothyroxine?
Many people find different brands of levothyroxine are not interchangeable
Important to also have vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested.
Has this been done yet?
Often vitamins are extremely low and improving low vitamin levels by supplementing can help how levothyroxine works
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Has GP tested thyroid antibodies?
Levothyroxine is extremely fussy medication
It must be taken on its own on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after
No other medications or supplements within 2 hours
Many people find it more convenient to take levothyroxine at bedtime
Levothyroxine is not like an aspirin. No instant change. It takes 2-3 weeks before seeing any improvements
Likely to need several further increases in levothyroxine dose over coming months
Thank you slow dragon its accord. Its so sad I have lost my grandson my son had a baby seven months ago I had a break down couldn't bond with the baby felt flat had a pycotic episode he stated he was fed up with my out bursts. Before the outburst I was having hallucinations our beautiful daughter who is so ill heart op soon to save her life is so angry with them. It was her who put me onto your site it was like a tick box she loves me and always knew something wasn't right in my head and body. Haven't seen my new born grandson for seven months husband diabetic ill man covid shielding him I had a full break down just adds to major stress. So I just put it all down to that .
Stress is the enemy of thyroid
You have a lot on your plate
Be kind to yourself. Rest and recover.
Gentle regular exercise helps
A short walk around the block every day, if you can manage it .....or some yoga
You need to be patient while the levothyroxine slowly improves your metabolism
Make sure GP tests your vitamins too
Sorry I tend to go off still a bit raw Not sure what other tests the doctor did. I asked if he thought it was Hashimotos the reply was I would be a lot more ill if it was!
It almost certainly is autoimmune thyroid disease (about 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune)
U.K. medics rarely call it hashimoto’s
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
Link re access
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test
Thriva also offer just vitamin testing
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3
£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
vitamindtest.org.uk
guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight
Even if we frequently don’t start on full replacement dose, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until eventually on, or near full replacement dose
NICE guidelines on full replacement dose
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...
1.3.6
Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.
Also here
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...
gp-update.co.uk/Latest-Upda...
Traditionally we have tended to start patients on a low dose of levothyroxine and titrate it up over a period of months. RCT evidence suggests that for the majority of patients this is not necessary and may waste resources.
For patients aged >60y or with ischaemic heart disease, start levothyroxine at 25–50μg daily and titrate up every 3 to 6 weeks as tolerated.
For ALL other patients start at full replacement dose. For most this will equate to 1.6 μg/kg/day (approximately 100μg for a 60kg woman and 125μg for a 75kg man).
If you are starting treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism, this article advises starting at a dose close to the full treatment dose on the basis that it is difficult to assess symptom response unless a therapeutic dose has been trialled.
BMJ also clear on dose required
bestpractice.bmj.com/topics...
Another two months sadly before next blood test on top of the two weeks already passed. I thank you for all the info its sad I truly wish this had been picked up along time ago. Thankfully we have always had a good diet and went for daily walks but lock down and depression throw this off track . I thank you so much it will be very help for me and my family. x
You could/should get tested at 6-8 weeks after each dose increase in levothyroxine
Plus get GP to include vitamins and thyroid antibodies at next test, if not been tested yet
Meanwhile sign up for online access to your medical record to get the actual results and ranges
Come back with new post once you get these results.
You will need to keep personal records of results, what dose you are taking and how you feel
Can be helpful to write yourself weekly update. That way you can see progress over the weeks
You could test vitamin D now
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
vitamindtest.org.uk
Low vitamin D is extremely common when hypothyroid
Thank you.
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